Muthuvel was born to Karupaiya Thevar and Lakshmiamal on 1 July 1946 in N. Karisalkulam village, near Kamuthi, Ramanathapuram District. He participated in many activities as a student leader. He served as a Revenue Inspector in R. S. Mangalam, Ramanathapuram, and later elected as the President of N. Karisalkulam village.
Muthuvel was elected as the Central Committee member of the All India Forward Bloc. He became Joint Secretary of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar College, in Kamuthi.
He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly from the Mudukulathur constituency in the 1984 election.[1] He made a famous speech against a Member of the legislative council in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly.[citation needed]
He was elected State President of All India Forward Bloc, Tamil Nadu division. He became President of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar trust, Kamuthi and took several steps designed to uplift all backward class communities in southern Tamil Nadu. He worked for the upliftment of downtrodden people.[citation needed]